11th Annual ROTARY/One

Chicago Woman of the Year Award Ceremony

The ROTARY/One Chicago Woman of the Year Award Ceremony has drawn between 150 and 250 attendees each year and is a wonderful opportunity to honor special women in the Chicago community, to bring friends and colleagues to a meaningful and uplifting event, and to demonstrate Rotary’s breadth and depth as an organization.

As the world’s first service organization, we realized a while back that we were in a great position to honor people for their service to the Chicago community. In honoring women, we underscore the immeasurable strength that women have brought to the Rotary organization.

Congratulations to the 2024 Chicago Woman of the Year Honorees:

Sandra Blakemore – Chicago Commissioner for the Dept. of Human Resources
Emilia DiMenco – President & CEO, Women’s Business Development Center
Maria L. Torres, MDChair Pain Management Service (Ret), Cook County Health

Click here to view the 11th Annual Chicago Woman of the Year PROGRAM.

Criteria for Chicago Woman of the Year Award

How has the candidate distinguished herself in her field of endeavor? Please provide a description of the philanthropic, professional and/or corporate positions, and her accomplishments.

What are the candidate’s credentials/experiences and how does she positively impact the Chicago community?

How will this candidate draw attendance from the Chicago area, via her affiliation with various organizations? List the groups that are likely to send representatives to our event.

Does the candidate exemplify Rotary’s commitment to the Four-Way Test:
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

PREVIOUS AWARD CEREMONIES

Chicago Woman of the Year – May 2023

Olena Gordon, President UMANA Illinois
Cassandra Ma, Founder and Executive Director, Reclaim 13
Susana Mendoza, Comptroller, State of Illinois

PHOTOS of the EVENT

VIDEO of the EVENT

PRINTED PROGRAM

Chicago Woman of the Year – May 2022

Kelly Fair, Polished Pebbles
Deloris Jordan, The James R. Jordan Foundation
Jennifer Soble, Illinois Prison Project

PHOTOS of the EVENT

VIDEO of the EVENT

PRINTED PROGRAM

Chicago Woman of the Year – April 2021

Trish Atha, Ignition Community Glass
Barbara Best, Capital Strategies Investment Group
Hedy Ratner, Women’s Business Development Center

Keynote: Elizabeth Colón, National Association of Women Business Owners

PHOTOS of the EVENT

VIDEO of the EVENT

PRINTED PROGRAM

Chicago Woman of the Year – May 2019

Table Sponsors: Bruning & Associates; The Coleman Foundation; Revolution

Rosa Berardi, The Coleman Foundation
Cindy Housner, Great Kajes Adaptive Sports
Terry Savage, Terry Savage Productions

Keynote: Kate Bensen, CEO, The Chicago Network

PHOTOS of the EVENT

VIDEO of the EVENT

PRINTED PROGRAM

Chicago Woman of the Year – May 2018

​Event Sponsor: Michael Best
​Table Sponsors Included: Bruning & Associates; Latham & Watkins; Illinois College of Optometry; John Wilhelm

Yvonne Jones, Jesse White Scholars and Tutoring Program
Amanda Lannert, Jellyvision Lab
Deborah Steiner, RR Donnelley
Public Service Special Recognition: Dr. Janice K. Jackson, Chicago Public Schools

Keynote: Randy Fifield, Fifield Companies

PHOTOS of the EVENT

VIDEO of the EVENT

​PRINTED PROGRAM

Honorees – June 2016

Table Sponsors included Illinois College of Optometry, Ascend Consulting

Paula Fasseas, PAWS Evelyn Jones, Saint Bernard Hospital Maria Paz Salas, Sacred Heart Chicago

Keynote: Jennifer Jones, Media Street Publications

PHOTOS OF THE EVENT
PRINTED PROGRAM

​Honorees – June 2015

Table Sponsors included Easter Seals, Illinois College of Optometry, Primera Engineers, Ascend Consulting

PHOTOS OF THE EVENT

PRINTED PROGRAM

​Theresa Mintle, Chamber of Commerce Marcenia Richards, Fierce Women of Faith
​Barbara Zawacki, Easter Seals Chicago

Keynote: Evelyn Sanguinetti, LT. Governor

​Honorees – June 2014

Table Sponsors included Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Latham & Watkins, Quarles & Brady

Toni Preckwinkle, County Board President Deborah Rickert, Support Our Troops Janice Rogers, Quarles & Brady

Keynote: Theresa Mintle, Chamber of Commerce

PHOTOS FOR THE EVENT

PRINTED PROGRAM

Honorees – June 2013

Table Sponsors included Latham & Watkins, Victoria Brander, Lisa Russ, Gearhart Design

Victoria Brander, Operation Walk Chicago Patricia Jahn, Chicago 502.org Lisa Madigan, Attorney General

Keynote: Diane Primo, Intralink Gobal

PHOTOS FOR THE EVENT

PRINTED PROGRAM